Combined electric fan and heater



Jan. 1, 1946. G E 2,391,964

COMBINED ELECTRIC FAN AND HEATER Filed Jan. 20, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. {t I 155 5 GREEN Jan. 1, 1946. B. GREEN I COMBINED ELECTRIC FAN-AND HEATER Filed Jan. 20, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LEE 5. Gees/v flTTOA /WSYJ Jan. 1, 1946. L B. GREEN COMBINED ELECTRIC FAN AND HEATER s Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 20, 1944 AN /7 m E 5 i J. Wm WM i T: 0 2% 6 5 W in? a E l E 3 WM 0 Z w v w t M Patented Jan. 1, 1946 COMBINED ELECTRIC FAN AND HEATER Lee B. Green, Lakewood, Ohio Application January 20, 1944, Serial No. 518,933

Claims.

This invention relates to electric fans and aims to provide an improved device of this kind which is very compact and in which the fan and motor unit is encased in a streamlined housing.

Another object of the inventionis to provide an electric fan of this character having an electric heater therein for heating the air being delivered.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved electric fan of the character mentioned, having novel oscillating mechanism therein.

Still another objector this invention is to provide an improved electric fan and heater of the character referred to, having novel means for controlling-the operation of the fan and the operation of the electric heater.

The invention can be further briefly summarized as consisting of certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts-hereinafter described 7 and particularly set out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying. sheets of drawings,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through a combined electric fan and heater embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken giirough the device as indicated by line 2-2 of Fig. 3 is a partial sectional plan view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and showing linkage which forms a part of the oscillating mechanism;

Fig. 4 is anend view of the electric heating means showing th same in detached relation;

Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view further illustrating the construction of the electric heater;

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view taken through the oscillating mechanism as indicated by line 6-4 ofFig.2;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken through the oscillating mechanism as. indicated by line '|--'I of Fig. 6; I

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken through the housing at a point adjacent the fan and heater control means as indicated by line 88' of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a face view of the stationary switch member showing the same in detached relation,

and

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating the electrical connections by which the motor and heating means are connected with the stationary switch member, the latter being shown in cross section as indicated by line Ill-l0 of Fig. 9.

Proceeding with a more detailed description tric fan and heater, it will be seen from the drawings that thedevice comprises in general 2. casing or housing I2 connected with a support l3 and containing an electric heater l4 and a fan and motor unit l5 which operates to cause a stream of air to pass through the heater l4 and to be delivered from the housing. The device also embodies an oscillating mechanism [6 which is actuated from the fan and motor unit l5 and imparts oscillating movement to the housing l2.

A control means for the device includes a switch knob or actuator H which is movable to control thesupply of current to the heater l4 and the unit 15 and a control member or knob l8 for controlling the oscillating mechanism l6.

The housing I2 comprises a hollow sheet metal structure which'in this instance is of a streamlined or bullet-like shape having a substantially cylindrical end portion Ho and a rounded or tapered end portion l2b which converges toward a transverse back or" end wall IS. The conversing end portion |2b of the housing is provided with; a series of annularly spaced slots or openings 2| through which air enters the housing during operation of the fan and motor unit IS. The substantially cylindrical end portion I2 1 of the housing is the air delivery end of the device and is provided with a relatively reduced ring or flange portion 22 to which a substantially cylindrical extension or housing section 23 may be connected by means of suitably spaced screws 24. The housing section 23 contains the electric heating means I4 and locates the same in front of the fan and motor unit l5 so that air moved by the latter will be discharged through the'heating element and delivered from the casing through the end opening 25 of the housing section 23. A guard 26, which in this instance is in the form of a spirally wound wire, is retained in the front opening 25 of the housing section 23 and prevents accidental contact with the electric heater H. Y

The support I3 is here shown as comprising a base or standard 28 having an upstanding lug 29 to which a forked bracket 30 is rockably connected by the pin 3|. The forked bracket 30 has an upstanding stem or post 32 connected therewith and on which the housing I 2 is mounted by means of a sleeve 33 which surrounds the post. The sleeve 33 extends into the housing l2 in a transverse direction and has its outer or lower end suitably anchored or connected with the wall of the housing. The post 32 and the sleeve 33 cooperate to form a pivotal mounting for the of the present embodiment of my combined elechousing I2 which will permitthe latter to be 2 accuse;

oscillated or swimg laterally in a horizontal plane. The forked bracket 3e cooperating with the 1ug 29 forms-a pivotal connection by which the housing I2 can be rocked or tilted for vary- 'ing the inclination of the housing and the air stream in the vertical plane.

To facilitate lifting the device and tilting the housing i2 thereof on the pivot 3!, I may provide the housing with a longitudinally extend- -ing elongated projection or handle member which in this instance conforms to the curvature of the housing and is mounted on the upper portion thereof by means of the screw. 36 and the interfltting lug 35a. The handle member 35 may be molded or otherwise formed, preferably of a material which does not readily conduct heat or electricity such as a suitable plastic.

It will be noted also in connection with the mounting of the device that the support is is connected with the housing ii at an intermediate point of-the latter and the fan and motor unit 55 is located in the housing so that the center of gravity of this unit will lie substantially on the extended axis of the post 32. This provides for a good balance being obtained in the device and contributes to quiet operation by reducing the tendency toward vibration.

The fan and motor unit i5 comprises an electric motor 38 which may be of any appropriate design or construction and a suitable fan or air impeller 38 which is mounted on the rotary shaft of the motor. The frame of the motor may be provided with a. plurality of projections or bracket-elements iii adapted to be connected with the housing I2 for mounting the unit it therein. The motor 38 drives the fan 3% in a direction to cause air to be drawn into the housing through the openings 2! and to be delivered with cooperating annular grooves and circum ferentially spaced am'al lugs 35 and d6 permitting the rings to have an interfitting engagement by which they are held in the desired coaxial alignment and which permits the resistance wire 33 to be supported by the lugs'd, so that adjacent portionsof such wire extend in spaced substantially parallel relation to each other.

The heaterit is mounted in the housing section 23 by providing the latter with circumferentially spaced clips d! having resilient arms Ala which grip the rings 53 and hold the same in the desired grouped and interfitting relation. The rings 43 are also provided with circumferentially spaced external radial lugs Q8 which proiect outwardly and engage the wall of the housing section 23 for supporting and centralizing the heater l6 therein. If desired a layer or sleeve E9 of asbestos paper or other heat insulating material can be interposed between the heater l4 and the wall of the housing section 23.

- The oscillating mechanism It will be described next. This mechanism includes a housing 5! which is suitably connected with the fan and motor unit l5,-as by means of the screws 52, and contains gearing which is driven by the electric motor 38. The oscillating mechanism also includes linkage by which the fan and motor unit 35 will rotate the worm 53 continuous y.

are connected with the post 32 of the support M, as will be presently described. The gearing contained in the housing 5| comprises worms 53 and 54 and worm gears 55 and 56 meshing re- 5 spectively with such worms. The housing 55 is preferably constructed so that it will retain a quantity of lubricant in surrounding relation to the gearing therein.

The worm 53 is carried by an extension 51 of m the motor shaft to which projects into the housing 5|. The worm 56 is carried by a countershaft 58 which extends transversely of the housing 5! and with which the gear 55 is also connected. The worm gear 56 is connectedwith 35 a vertical shaft 59'which extends through and is rotatably mounted in the top and bottom walls of the housing 58. The portion of the shafted which projects through the lower wall of the housing 5! carries a crank so which extends 23 through an opening or bushing 6i provided in the link 52.

With the arrangement of gearing lust described, it will be seen that during operation of the fan and motor unit it the aft e ension 51 e worm 53 cooperating with the wormgear 55 will likewise drive the countershaft 58 and the worm 5d continuously. The worm gear 56 is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 in full lines and in mesh with the g worm 5d at which time the gear 56 will also be driven and will cause rotation of the shaft 59 and the crank til carried thereby. Such rotation of the shaft 5Q will cause pushing and pulling forces to be applied to the link 62 and the lat- 35 ter, being connected withthe post 32, will cause I an oscillating movement to be imparted to the housing l2.

For controlling the oscillating mechanism so as to permit the same to be rendered ineffective,

co the worm gear 56 is adapted to be moved or pulled out of mesh with its worm 55. Fig. 'I hows a dotted line position for the worm gear 55 in which the latter has been moved out of mesh with the worm 5B. To permit such movement of the.

worm gear 55 into and out of mesh with the worm do, I provide for axial movement of the shaft 553 and provide the latter with athrust collar to with which a shifter arm or lever 65 cooperates. The arm 65 is carried by a control shaft 59 56 which projects throughthe rear wall of the housing 5i and extends rearwardly in the main housing I? substantially coaxially with the motor shaft to and motor shaft extension it. The outer end of thearm 65 is preferablyprovided with 55 a hook portion 651:, which loosely embraces the sleeve of the thrust collar 64 andis bent or curved so that its engagement with the thrust collar will he's. substantially rocking or rolling contact. It should be mentioned at this point that the pin to of the crank 6b is of a length to permit the above mentioned axial shifting of the shaft 59 without being withdrawn from the bushing SI of the link fill.

I have stated above that the link 62 of the oscillating mechanism is connected with the post 32 of the support Hi. This is illustrated more fully in Figs. 1 and3 of the drawings from which it will be seen that the link 62 has a forked end him which is pivotally connected withv an anchor 79 link 58. The anchor link 68 has a ring or washer portion 68:: which is mounted on the upper end of the post 32 and retained thereon by the nut 69. The link 68 is held againstrotation relative to the post 32 by means of cooperating flat faces 10 provided on these parts.

The control means referred to above as including the selectively operable control members I1 and I8 will be described next. The control member or actuator is in the form of a disk or ring and constitutes a part of an electric switch for controlling the operation of the motor 38 and the i,

supply of current to the electric heater I I. The actuator I'I carries a movable switch member I2 which cooperates with contacts of a stationary switch member I3. This stationary switch member comprises an insulating body. or plate which is. suitably connected with the transverse wall I9 of the housing I2 and carries an arcuately extending row of stationary contacts I4 which are located opposite an arcuate opening I5 of such transverse wall so that they will be engaged by the movable switch member I2.

As will be seen from the diagram shown in Fig. I0, the two contacts designated 14a areconnected with the current supply conductor I6. The two contacts 14b and Me are both connected with the motor 38. The single contact- Md, which is offset with respect to-the arcuate row formed by the other stationary contacts, is connected with the heating element I4. As shown in- Fig. 8 the movable switch member I2 has a bowed body portion 12a which'cooperates with and spans certain of the stationary contacts 14a, 14b and 140 during movement of such switch member to its diiferent positions. This switch member also has an arm portion 12b which cooperates with the offset stationary contact Md.

The switch member I2 is movable to three different positions which are represented diagrammatically in Fig. 9 by the lines 11, I8 and I9. When'the switch member I2 is in position represented by the line I1 the contact 14b for the motor 38 is connected with one of the current supply contacts 14a. This will result in operation of the fan and motor unit without energization of the electric heater I4 so that unheated air will be delivered by the device when this is desired. When the switch member I2 is moved to the off position represented by the line I8, the switch member is then in engagement with the two contacts Ida but does not engage any of the other contacts and hence neither the motor nor the heater are energized at this time. When the switch member is moved to the position represented by the line I9, the body portion 12a connects one of the contacts 14a with the contact 140 so that current will then be supplied to the heater I4. At this time the arm 12b also engages the motor contact I4d so that current will also be supplied to operate the motor 38. Thus whenever the switch is moved to the position I9 to energize the heater I4, current is necessarily also supplied to the motor 38 so that air will be delivered through the heating element and will prevent overheating of this element and of the casing portions adjacent thereto.

From Figs. 1 and.8 it will be seen that the movable switch member I2' projects through the arcuate opening I5 of the transverse wall I9 so as to engage and cooperate with the contacts 14 of the stationary switch member I3 in the manner just explained above. For limiting the movement of the switch member I2 during the shifting thereof to the end positions 11 and I9, I provide the actuator II with axial projections 80'which 70 extend through the arcuate opening I5 and serve as stops which engage the ends 15a of this arcuate opening.

The shaft 66 for controlling the oscillating coaxially of the housing I2, as mentioned above, and is connected with the control knob I8. By rotating the control knob I8 rocking movement is imparted to the arm 65 in the housing 5| for shifting the worm gear 56 into and out of mesh with the worm 54 as explained above. The knob I8 also serves as a means for retaining the switch actuator II in its operative position adjacent the transverse wall II] of the housing I2. 7

To enable the control knob I8 to accomplish these functions, I provide the shaft 66 with a sleeve or enlargement 82 adjacent its outer end which projects through and is supported in a central opening of the transverse wall I9. This sleeve is suitably connected with the shaft 66 as by means of welding indicated at 83, The sleeve 82 extends through the control member I1 and forms a supporting shaft for the latter. A screw 84 extending into the outer end of the sleeve 82 retains.

As will be seen from Fig. 1,'the taper provided on the housing I2 imparts to the latter a desired attractive and streamlined shape. By constructing the control members I1 and I8 with a bevel or taper corresponding with the taper of the housing I2 they will complete the desired streamline or bullet shape of the latter.

From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings it ,will now be readily seen that I have provided a novel form of combined electric fan and heater which is very compact in construction and of an attractive and streamlined shape. It will be seen also that this device embodies novel oscillating mechanism which can be economically produced and which will afford smooth and quiet operation. It will now also be evident that the novel control means embodied in my oscillating heater fan will enable the same to operate in a safe and eflicient manner.

While I have illustrated and described my v combined electric fan and heater in considerable detail, it will be understood of course that I do not wish to be correspondingly limited but regard my invention as including all changes and modifications coming within the spirit of the invention and the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An electric fan comprising an elongated housing open at one end thereof and at its other end having an air inlet opening, an electric heating element located in said housing and extendin-g transversely. thereof adjacent said open end, a support connected with said housing at an intermediate point thereof for supporting the device, and a fan and motor unit mounted in said housing with its center of gravity lying substantially in 'a transverse plane which extends through the axis of "said support and being operable to cause a stream of air to be drawn into the housing through said inlet opening and discharged from the housing across said heatingelement and through said open end, said unit being spaced from the wall of said housing so as to be substantiall surrounded by an air passage conmechanism I6 extends rearwardly substantially nesting said ilet opening with said open end and point thereof, a support having a stem extending into said sleeve for mounting the device for oscillation, a fan and motor unit mounted in the housing between said inlet and delivery openings and directly over said support and with its center of gravity lying substantially in a transverse plane extending through the axis of said support, an electric heating element located in the housing adjacent the delivery opening thereof, and oscillating mechanism located in the housing and driven by said unit for oscillating the device, said fan and motor unit being spaced from the wall of said housing to provide a passage for a flow of air from the inlet opening to the delivery opening around and in cooling contact with the fan and motor unit before reaching said heating element and said fan and motor unit being operable to cause said flow of air through said passage.

3. An electric fan comprising an elongated housing open at one end thereof and at its other end-having a bullet-shaped nose provided with air inlet openings, an electric heating element ing elenient, and oscillating mechanism located entirely within said housing and driven by said unit and including linkage operably connected with said support.

4. An electric fan comprising an elongated housing open at one end and convergently tapered at the other end, said tapered end having an air inlet opening therein, an electric heating located in said housing and extending transverse- 1y thereof adjacent said open end, a support connected with said housing at an intermediate point '1 thereof and supporting-the device for oscillating movement, a motor and fan unit mounted in said housing directly over said support and with its center of gravity lying substantially in a trans verse plane extending through the axis of said support and being operable to deliver a stream of air across said heating element and through said open end, said unit being spaced from the wall of said housing so as to be substantially surrounded by an air passage connecting the air inlet openings with said open end and through which Said stream flows around and in cooling contact with said unit before reaching said heatelement in said housing adjacent said open end, a support connected with the housing at an intermediate point thereof and mounting the device for oscillating movement, a fan and motor unit mounted in said housing between said air inlet opening and said heating element and directly 'over said support and operable to deliver a stream of air through said open end, an oscillating mechanism carried by said unit and operable to impart oscillating movement to the device, a control shaft projecting from said mechanism and I extending substantially cc of said canvergently tapered end, and a knob on said shaft conforming with the convergent taper of said housing.

5. An electric fan comprising an elongated housing open at one end and convergently tapered at the other end, said tapered end having an air inlet opening therein, an electric heating element in said housing adjacent said open end, a support connected with the housing at an intermediate point thereof and mounting the device for oscillating movement, a fan and inotor' unit mounted in said housing between said air inlet opening and said heating element and directly over said support'and operable to deliver a stream of air through said open end, a switch controlling said fan and motor unit, an oscillating mechanism carried by said unit and operable to impart oscillating movement to the device, a control shaft projecting from said mechanism, and extending at. substantially coaxially of said convergently tapered end, a knob on the outer end of said shaft, and

a switch actuating member between said knob and housing, said actuating member andknob conforming to the convergent taper of the heirs- B. Gama 

